Missing the necessary funding from the General Assembly and Governor, the Regional Transportation Authority approved budgets for the CTA and Pace that include massive layoffs, fare hikes and service cuts for 2007 and 2008.

Unless the agencies receive last-minute reprieve from elected officials, the following steps will be taken: 

September 16

• CTA has announced approximately 600 layoffs, including bus operators, bus services, mechanics and transportation managers.  Earlier cost-cutting efforts eliminated 75 administrative jobs.
• CTA fares will increase to $2.50 and $3.00 on trains during peak hours for cash and transit card customers.
• CTA Chicago Card fares increase to $2.00 for peak and off-peak hours. 
• 39 CTA bus routes will be eliminated.
• CTA will transfer $57 in capital funds to operations. 
• Pace local route and Metra Feeder fares will increase to $1.50. 
• Pace ADA Paratransit fares increase to $3.00. 
• Pace Taxi Access Program (TAP) fares increase to $5.50. 
• Pace Vanpool fares increase by 10%. 
• The use of the ADA monthly pass and CTA one-ride tickets will be discontinued on Pace operated City ADA services; Pace will expand the availability of its ADA one-rider ticket to the City ADA services. 
• Metra will transfer $60 million capital funds to operations.

For more information, visit http://movingbeyondcongestion.org/